We’ve never had ants inside our home. We’ve seen them outside and had them exterminated by a professional, but never experienced any trouble with them inside. Until earlier this month. My husband, in anticipation of the coming spring weather, power washed our patio and removed the winter growth of moss and other unsightly debris. A […]
Humor
Gaining Perspective
This week, being the klutz that I am, I managed to dislocate my hip. Fortunately, I’m on good terms with my chiropractor and he saw me right away. Recovery, though, would take time. Standing often proved too painful, so I borrowed my wheeled office chair to give me mobility around the house. While I meandered […]
Without Warning
Last Sunday my family emerged from church to a rainy downpour mixed with a sprinkling of white snowflakes. I’d heard that we might see some snow in the mix Sunday or Monday, but no predictions of anything more serious were made. Rain and snow continued to fall throughout the day like a snow globe continually […]
Playing Possum
This tale started with a stray cat and a man who can’t abide any animal going hungry. When a ragged old tom looking like a cross between a barn owl and a raccoon appeared on our doorstep, my husband’s answer to the cat’s problems was feed it. Which means the cat stuck around for more. […]
That Voice
Have you ever had one of those days? You know the ones I mean. The day begins with a snafu that you want to fix, but attempts to do so lead to more delays and roadblocks. Followed by more snafus, delays, and roadblocks. I had one of those this week. I pay the bills for […]
Of Ghosts and Goblins
When do the winter holidays begin at your house? I confess that Thanksgiving and Christmas are the only two I give any attention, but with the commercialism of our culture my daughter gets into the spirit of the season early by insisting on a Halloween pumpkin. I benefit from her enthusiasm by having a lot […]
Like Writers, Snails Exist
When I was a leader for my church’s Awana club, I had the privilege of teaching during their evening closing time. One year the director chose to use a compilation of stories that compared the attributes of various creatures with the role they played in God’s kingdom. When my turn came to share, I drew […]
When Communication Fails
Earlier this week I experienced a phenomena unknown to me. I lost my voice. I’d been fighting a virus for about a week and thought I was on the mend when I awoke and tried to speak. I squawked like a chicken awaiting the axe. Nothing but air and wheeze. Surprised my husband, too. I […]
Turkey Trotters
Two turkeys moved to our street recently. I’m not talking about nefarious neighbors with questionable pasts, I mean the oversized bird—guts, feathers, and all. I first noticed them in August, strutting side by side down the sidewalk […]
Saying Goodbye
Today I attended the funeral of a man I’d never met. His daughter is a fellow author and friend, and has spoken many times of her father. Her praise of him glowed—his kindness, wisdom, and knowledge almost supernatural in the telling. But he was mortal, a great individual who left a legacy of love. He’d […]